Sunday, July 02, 2006
sometimes it makes you mad.
Sometimes the most frustrating part of running a syndicated show is setting up the interviews. Here is a real life example, I’ve left out the name of the band and we will just call the guitarist "guitarist X".
Once I’ve decided I’d like to have "guitarist X" on the show I contact his publicity agent first, if he has one. So I sent an email requesting the interview in-person while his band is in town. I did this 3 full weeks before the show. After 5 days with no response I re-sent the email. 2 more days with no response.
Next I move onto the record label, in this case it’s a classic artist who doesn’t have much "new product" so they are on a tiny label, who decides not to return my email.
We are only about 10 days away from the show, so this time I contact the venue and promoters who want as much press as possible to help sell tickets for the show. They provide me with a number for the bands management. I called and they told me "It sounds like a good show, but the publicist has to make the call on weather or not he can do the show". I explained that the publicist was not returning my email, so they provided me with his phone number.
I called the publicist, who I was told by the secretary, had broken his foot and was out of the office. She suggested I email him, which I did….it got no response.
4 days before the show, I called the press agent again…..He’s still out with a broken foot. I asked if anyone was handling his artists and that I needed an answer. They said "no", and that "I should email him", which I did for the 4th time……no response.
The day before the show, I went ahead and made "loose" plans just in case, but clearly this interview was not going to happen.
24 hours before the show…..and an email arrives from the publicist. It says "Guitarist X" has agreed to the interview, and that is it. No time, or place or on-site contact information was included. So I reply to the email and wait.
12 hours before the show, I can’t wait any longer. I call the press agent’s office and explain that the interview has been approved, but I have no contact info. The office gives me the number for the tour manager. I call him right away to set up a time, he of course has no idea who I am, and it’s the first he has heard about any interviews! I explain to him what the Chop Shop is and that it’s on 29 radio stations, and he says "cool, I’ll have ‘guitarist X’ call you in an hour or two".
9 hours before the show "guitarist X" calls my cell, he’s excited to do the show, but he’s at the airport, and his signal is breaking up. "I’ll have to call you back when I get to Detroit".
6 hours before the show, "Guitarist X" calls and says to meet him at 8:30pm at the venue.
Now after all this, you have no idea what to expect, but every thing worked out perfectly. The band and tour manager treated me great with all-access passes and front row center tickets. "Guitarist X’ did the interview like the old pro he is, then took me side stage to show off some of the cooler guitars in his collection. They even gave me access to free food and drink. It was first class all the way….after 20 days of hell trying to go through all the proper channels…….next time "guitarist X" said just email or call me directly". He gave me his cell number and email address…..all’s well that ends well!
Black out.
¶ 10:50 AM
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